The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-25
MINE1vTE.
Springfield Republican.

prettieSt child III the jacques found
ling hospital So CHEEKY and bright
was she that every one loved her, and
J after while the matron gave her the
name of Sunette, "for," said she, "the
little thing seems to flood every place
where she happens to be with sun
shine. One day as the tiny girl sat on
little circle OF closely-shaven turf
where stood fine marble statue OF
Hebe that some person had given to
decorate the hospital grounds, sing
ing, as her habit was, at the top OF
her bird-like voice, one OF the young
musicians came that way and asked.
"What is beneath you, my happy
baby?"
"Grass," replied the child promptly,
pulling her scant check shirt about
her dimped knees, cor do you see n
bug OF an ant, or any creeping thinG?"
and she looked about her uneasily.
Nothing OF the kind, little one, F"
said the young man laughing. "What
is beneath the grass?"
''Dirt is" said Minette, shutting
her rosy lips tight. IL know | saw
Paul the gardener, plant rose tree. "
"Good. What is beneath the dirt?"
Don't know" and the rosy lips
pursed themselves in a puzzled ex-
preston.
II will tell you, my beauty" said
the young doctor, mysteriously. at
is China, and the people who live there
( look like the pictures on madam's tea
set and on the fire screen in the old
doctors room. If you sing long
enough and loud enough they will hear
you and come, bringing whatever you
like best"
81 would like q mamma and a
papa" The answer was at once forth
coming and the lips tightly, closed.
"And wax doll and kittenW
"No, my mamma and my papa will
get what else | want. / shall sing for
them"
"Well, must say tnat, considering
the circumstances, you have very
clear ideas of parental responsible
ties" and the young man went laugh
ing on his way, laughing again as he
paused moment at the hospital
door to listen to Minette, who seemed
to have tuned her pipes anew in order
TO raise her Chinese benefactors.
"You are happy infantl" said n
nurse girl the next day,who WAS cross
ing the bit OF park and could not re-
visit the temptation OF speaking to
Minette-few people could.
".Oh. it is not just simply because /
am happy that sing" coniided the
little girl. "IIave you heard that
China is Just beneath, and il the fun
nv people there hear me sing they will
come, bringing me just exactly what /
am wishing for most of anything?
The good DR.. Octave told me So"
This With a sideways perk Of the
small! hend and a questioning look in
the blue eyes.
"That is all very WE'LL" said the
maid, settling her white muslin cap
on her head with both hands; "but /
fear he did not tell you that you
must not be forever singing the same
song. for the queer people in China,
who dwell beneath you, will not come
until they hear the song they best
like"
"Oh, dearl" sighed Minette, petulant
for lust a moment. at may be that
] do not know the song that they like
best. l will sing them oil over, and If
they do not appear, you, Babette,
must teach me another"
"will you be pleased to teach me a
song that / do not already know"
was the little girls quaint request to
nearly every stranger who entered the
grounds after that.
Sometimes the petition asgranted,
sometimes it was not; but every one
went away with a pleasant thought
of Minette hung like picture on the
gallery OF memory.
One morning q lady and gentleman
came quietly in at the gate and walk
ed about quietly regarding the chill
dren playing here and there. As usu.
al Minette was on the circular bit OF
turf at the base OF the statue OF Hebe.
For she supposed that only in that
very spot was China directly beneath
her. She was singing a quaint little
love song, taught her only the day be-
before by produce vender, and as
the newcomers paused to listen, she
said very sweetly.
Twill you please to teach me song